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What a difference a year makes: world leaders who left office in 2016

Impeachment, resignation, death and constitutional law have all had a hand in recent changes at the political top table. DW looks back at the leaders we said goodbye to this year.

John Mahama, Ghana - defeated

In the 2012 general election, John Mahama beat Nana Akufo-Addo to the presidency. On December 9 2016, the tables were turned and Mahama conceded defeat to his rival. Akufo-Addo's father, who served as president from 1970 to 1972, was one of Ghana's so-called "founding fathers."

Park Geun-hye, South Korea - impeached

On December 8, South Korea's parliament voted to impeach the president over her alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. In recent weeks, mass protests across the country have called for Park's removal from office. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has become interim president.

Matteo Renzi, Italy - resigned

The Italian prime minister tendered his resignation on December 7 after less than two years in the job. He had staked the future of his premiership on a referendum on constitutional change, which voters rejected on December 4. His ambition to tear down the political establishment earned him the nickname "il ramattore" - the Demolisher.

John Key, New Zealand - resigned

After eight years in the job, New Zealand's popular prime minister resigned unexpectedly on December 5, explaining that he wanted to spend more time with his family and avoid clinging to power. He said: "This is the hardest decision I've ever made and I don't know what I'll do next." Key will be succeeded by Bill English, the current finance minister.

Yahya Jammeh, Gambia - defeated

After elections on December 1, Jammeh unexpectedly conceded defeat to political newcomer Adama Barrow. On December 9, he backtracked and called for a rerun. Jammeh seized power in a military coup in 1994 and once said "Allah elected me, and only Allah can remove me." He has been accused of committing human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and torture.

Francois Hollande, France - end of term

France goes to the polls next April, but President Hollande, whose public approval rating dipped as low as 4 percent in November, announced on December 2 that he would not seek a second term in office. He said he wanted to give the Left the best chance to "triumph over conservatism and, worse still, extremism."

Barack Obama, US - end of term

Although President Obama won't officially leave office until January, his successor is already waiting - and working - in the wings. Donald Trump scored a surprise election victory in November, beating Democrat rival Hillary Clinton. Having already served two terms as president, Obama was not eligible for reelection.

Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan - died

Uzbekistan's authoritarian president died on September 2 at the age of 78. Karimov had been in power since 1991, when the country became an independent nation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Interim leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev won the presidential elections on December 4.

Dilma Rousseff, Brazil - impeached

Brazil's Senate voted to impeach the president on September 1, over the alleged manipulation of government accounts. Rousseff referred to the process as a "parliamentary coup" and vowed to appeal the decision. Her former vice president, Michel Temer, is now in charge.

Boiko Borisov, Bulgaria - resigned

Bulgaria's pro-EU prime minister resigned after presidential elections on November 13 saw opposition candidate Rumen Radev sweep to victory. Former nightclub bouncer and firefighter Borisov was also prime minister from 2009 to 2013, but stepped down amid public protests over poverty and corruption.

Nicolae Timofti, Moldova - end of term

Timofti was elected president by parliament in 2012. However, this practice was ruled unconstitutional by the courts earlier this year, paving the way for the first direct presidential elections in Moldova since 1996. On October 30, Igor Dodon won the presidency on a platform of closer ties with Russia.

Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro - resigned

Djukanovic has served on and off as prime minister and president of the small Balkan country for 25 years. He resigned from his latest stint as prime minister following parliamentary elections on October 16, in which his Democratic Party of Socialists, which favors stronger connections to the EU, failed to secure an absolute majority.

David Cameron, UK - resigned

In a referendum on July 23, Britain voted to leave the European Union. The prime minister, who had led the unsuccessful Remain campaign, appeared outside Downing Street the next day to announce his resignation. He later also resigned as a member of parliament.

Boni Yayi, Benin - end of term

After two terms in office, former banker Yayi was required to step down this year. More than 30 candidates were in the running to be his successor, including current prime minister Lionel Zinsou. However, Zinsou was defeated in the second round on March 20 by businessman Patrice Talon, also known as the "King of Cotton", who was accused of being involved in an alleged plot to poison Yayi in 2012.

Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic - interim

Samba-Panza was appointed president in 2014 amid a raging civil war between Muslim and Christian militias. Some 10,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed around the country on February 14 as voters went to the polls. Faustin-Archange Touadera, who emerged as the winner, pledged to reunify the country.

Ikililou Dhoinine, Comoros - end of term

The presidency of the Comoros rotates between the three main islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli. Dhoinine's five-year term came to an end this year and he will be succeeded by Azali Assoumani, who previously assumed power in 1999 after a bloodless coup. The elections on February 21 were marred by accusations of ballot stuffing and some incidents of violence.

John Mahama, Ghana - defeated

In the 2012 general election, John Mahama beat Nana Akufo-Addo to the presidency. On December 9 2016, the tables were turned and Mahama conceded defeat to his rival. Akufo-Addo's father, who served as president from 1970 to 1972, was one of Ghana's so-called "founding fathers."

Park Geun-hye, South Korea - impeached

On December 8, South Korea's parliament voted to impeach the president over her alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. In recent weeks, mass protests across the country have called for Park's removal from office. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has become interim president.

Matteo Renzi, Italy - resigned

The Italian prime minister tendered his resignation on December 7 after less than two years in the job. He had staked the future of his premiership on a referendum on constitutional change, which voters rejected on December 4. His ambition to tear down the political establishment earned him the nickname "il ramattore" - the Demolisher.

John Key, New Zealand - resigned

After eight years in the job, New Zealand's popular prime minister resigned unexpectedly on December 5, explaining that he wanted to spend more time with his family and avoid clinging to power. He said: "This is the hardest decision I've ever made and I don't know what I'll do next." Key will be succeeded by Bill English, the current finance minister.

Yahya Jammeh, Gambia - defeated

After elections on December 1, Jammeh unexpectedly conceded defeat to political newcomer Adama Barrow. On December 9, he backtracked and called for a rerun. Jammeh seized power in a military coup in 1994 and once said "Allah elected me, and only Allah can remove me." He has been accused of committing human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and torture.

Francois Hollande, France - end of term

France goes to the polls next April, but President Hollande, whose public approval rating dipped as low as 4 percent in November, announced on December 2 that he would not seek a second term in office. He said he wanted to give the Left the best chance to "triumph over conservatism and, worse still, extremism."

Barack Obama, US - end of term

Although President Obama won't officially leave office until January, his successor is already waiting - and working - in the wings. Donald Trump scored a surprise election victory in November, beating Democrat rival Hillary Clinton. Having already served two terms as president, Obama was not eligible for reelection.

Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan - died

Uzbekistan's authoritarian president died on September 2 at the age of 78. Karimov had been in power since 1991, when the country became an independent nation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Interim leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev won the presidential elections on December 4.

Dilma Rousseff, Brazil - impeached

Brazil's Senate voted to impeach the president on September 1, over the alleged manipulation of government accounts. Rousseff referred to the process as a "parliamentary coup" and vowed to appeal the decision. Her former vice president, Michel Temer, is now in charge.

Boiko Borisov, Bulgaria - resigned

Bulgaria's pro-EU prime minister resigned after presidential elections on November 13 saw opposition candidate Rumen Radev sweep to victory. Former nightclub bouncer and firefighter Borisov was also prime minister from 2009 to 2013, but stepped down amid public protests over poverty and corruption.

Nicolae Timofti, Moldova - end of term

Timofti was elected president by parliament in 2012. However, this practice was ruled unconstitutional by the courts earlier this year, paving the way for the first direct presidential elections in Moldova since 1996. On October 30, Igor Dodon won the presidency on a platform of closer ties with Russia.

Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro - resigned

Djukanovic has served on and off as prime minister and president of the small Balkan country for 25 years. He resigned from his latest stint as prime minister following parliamentary elections on October 16, in which his Democratic Party of Socialists, which favors stronger connections to the EU, failed to secure an absolute majority.

David Cameron, UK - resigned

In a referendum on July 23, Britain voted to leave the European Union. The prime minister, who had led the unsuccessful Remain campaign, appeared outside Downing Street the next day to announce his resignation. He later also resigned as a member of parliament.

Boni Yayi, Benin - end of term

After two terms in office, former banker Yayi was required to step down this year. More than 30 candidates were in the running to be his successor, including current prime minister Lionel Zinsou. However, Zinsou was defeated in the second round on March 20 by businessman Patrice Talon, also known as the "King of Cotton", who was accused of being involved in an alleged plot to poison Yayi in 2012.

Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic - interim

Samba-Panza was appointed president in 2014 amid a raging civil war between Muslim and Christian militias. Some 10,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed around the country on February 14 as voters went to the polls. Faustin-Archange Touadera, who emerged as the winner, pledged to reunify the country.

Ikililou Dhoinine, Comoros - end of term

The presidency of the Comoros rotates between the three main islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli. Dhoinine's five-year term came to an end this year and he will be succeeded by Azali Assoumani, who previously assumed power in 1999 after a bloodless coup. The elections on February 21 were marred by accusations of ballot stuffing and some incidents of violence.